Why I Built a Free SCADA Alternative
Commercial SCADA systems are insanely expensive:
- Wonderware (AVEVA): $25,000+ license
- Ignition: $4,000-$50,000/year
- WinCC (Siemens): $15,000+ Windows-only
For small water treatment plants, solar farms, or educational labs this is overkill.
Meet awtSCADA
A complete SCADA/HMI that runs from a single HTML file. No installation, no server, no license fees for the demo.
What Makes It Different
| Feature | Traditional SCADA | awtSCADA |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $10K-$100K | Free demo |
| Installation | Days/weeks | 0 seconds |
| Server | Required | None |
| OS | Usually Windows | Any browser |
| IEC 61850 | Add-on or none | Full stack |
9 Industrial Protocols
- IEC 61850 (MMS, GOOSE, Sampled Values) - unique for browser-based SCADA
- OPC UA - universal industrial connectivity
- Modbus TCP/RTU - PLCs, sensors, power meters
- MQTT - IoT and edge devices
- SNMP, BACnet, DNP3, IEC 60870-5-104, REST API
53 Function Blocks
PID controllers, timers, counters, logic gates, math operations, filters, comparators, interlocks.
65 Graphic Elements
Pumps, valves, motors, tanks, vessels, pipes, sensors, gauges, trends - drag and drop to build your HMI.
Architecture
Browser (Single HTML) <--> Python Gateway <--> Real Equipment
| |
SQLite DB PLC / RTU / IED
The HTML file contains the full HMI engine. The Python gateway (FastAPI + asyncio) handles communication with physical devices.
Who Is This For?
- Small facilities - water treatment, solar farms, building automation
- Education - teach SCADA without expensive licenses
- Prototyping - quick HMI mockups for client demos
- Digital substations - full IEC 61850 for power utilities
- Security research - safe ICS/SCADA lab environment
Try It
- Live Demo
- GitHub
- Download Free Demo (20 MB, 2-hour trial)
Full source code available on Gumroad - $5,000 one-time, no recurring fees.
What SCADA system do you use? Would a browser-based alternative be useful in your workflow?